Claymont wrestlers win district title, send six to state

Sunday

Feb 24, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 24, 2013 at 11:22 PM

Claymont finished four for four in the championships. Four wrestlers in the finals, four individual district champions. That helped the Mustangs roll up another district championship Saturday in the Division II district tournament at Heath High School.

Hank Keathley

Claymont finished four for four in the championships.

Four wrestlers in the finals, four individual district champions.

That helped the Mustangs roll up another district championship Saturday in the Division II district tournament at Heath High School.

Claymont, which had six qualify for next week’s state tournament, won the tournament with 182.5 points, while Steubenville finished second with 140.5.

“Anytime you can win a district title, it’s a good day,” said Claymont head coach Eric Toukonen. “We’re sending six quality kids to state, and we have two alternates.

“We think these kids have the potential to be in the top three. If we wrestle like we’re capable, who knows what will happen?”

New Philadelphia’s Mark Barrow won the championship at 170 pounds and Carrollton’s Joey Miller won the 120-pound title.

“This is a very exciting day,” Barrow said after his win in the title match. “I feel real good about my chances at the state meet.”

Dover advanced three to state with Corey Marshall (fourth at 106), Nick Weininger (third at 152) and Jason Clinker (fourth at 285) all qualifying.

“It’s like I said last week, it doesn’t matter where you finish at the sectional, it’s what you do the next week,” said Dover head coach Phil Clinker. “That’s true this week, too.”

Carrollton advanced five to state.

Miller (120) qualified for the fourth time.

“This is my first district title, so this is pretty exciting,” said Miller, a two-time placer at state. “I just want to go to Columbus and keep wrestling like I have. I know I made things a lot easier on myself by winning today.”

Tristan Stallard (fourth at 145), Austin Miller (fourth at 182), Tyler Dodd (fourth at 195) and Austin Bentley (third at 220) also qualified for state for the Warriors.

“This is a great day for Carrollton wrestling,” said Ken Pasiuk, head coach of the Warriors. “The last two rounds, these kids really came on. They went out and took care of business.”

Speaking of taking care of business, Burcher won his third district title to cap an early Claymont run in the finals. He won an 8-1 decision over Anthony Craig of Steubenville in the championship.

His two previous titles were at 106 pounds.

“This is a very different style of wrestling,” the Claymont junior said. “The matches are a lot slower. I try to build a lead early because these guys can hit you with a big move at any time.

“There’s not as much speed as there was at 106. Craig is probably the fastest kid I’ve wrestled this year.”

The Warner brothers got the ball rolling for Claymont.

Tyler Warner won the 106-pound title with a 1:06 pin of West Holmes freshman Cole Woods.

“I knew coming into this weekend that I needed eight more wins,” Tyler said. “Now I just need four more.”

A sophomore, Dustin Warner clinched his second trip to the state tournament with a 4-1 decision against Beaver’s Joshua Henderson at 113 pounds.

“I’m actually getting to wrestle people my size this year,” said the sophomore, who qualified for state as an undersized 120-pounder last year. “I get to use my technique instead of going out and having to rely on speed.”

“This is quite an exciting thing,” said Avery, one of two seniors on the Claymont team. “I came up short my last two years. I was really ready today.

West Holmes got its lone championship from Max Rohskopf, who pinned Lakewood’s John Gershom to win the 145-pound title.

NEAR MISSES

While the top four in each weight class qualify for the state meet, the consolation final for fifth/sixth place is important as well. The fifth-place finisher will be the state alternate for his respective weight class. If any of the top four are unable to wrestle, the alternate will step in.

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